Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. (AGC) recently unveiled the official glass roof for player benches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, which is taking place June 12 through July 13. The glass roof, made from chemically strengthened glass, reportedly provides unparalleled visibility, durability and damage resistance, and is an evolution from the model AGC provided last year to the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.

In addition, the bench application shows that this technology, originally developed to protect small electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, can be used in large fixtures, paving the way for architects and designers to find greater potential for chemically strengthened glass. The player benches, composed entirely of AGC-made materials such as fluoropolymer-coated frames made with fiber-reinforced plastic, will be supplied to all 12 venues and used at all matches of the sporting event.

One of the key attributes of the glass roof for player benches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil is clear visibility. The rear portion of the bench is applied with anti-reflective coating, making its reflective properties 13 times lower than conventional glass to ensure the best-possible visual experience for football fans.

Protection for players and staff on the bench is provided by a double layer of chemically strengthened Dragontrail™ X, a strong cover glass for electronic devices. The chemically strengthened glass is characterized by low center tension and what is reportedly the world’s highest compression stress. It makes glass exceedingly durable against external shock. The glass roof is also highly resistant to scratching, as well as deformation and discoloration, promising years-long product life even in outdoor environments characterized by fluctuating temperature and humidity.

“I’m proud that the bench featuring AGC’s new glass technology developed by our diligent engineers and workers will be shared with the players and thousands of football fans at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil,” said Kazuhiko Ishimura, president and CEO of AGC Asahi Glass. “This glass bench roof represents new possibilities for the application of our chemically strengthened glass technology in a variety of purposes.”  

 For more information, visit www.agc-group.com.